I've been working on this assemblage for a long time. It is full of many of my favorite vintage jewelry pieces and other treasures and has been listed already in my Etsy shop. Enjoy!
After saying to myself that I wouldn't again...I am! Can't believe I am, but Heidi is a fabulous swap hostess (i.e. very strict on "flakers", as she calls them), and I had such a great time in her Very Vintage Valentine swap a few years back. She has wonderful ideas, and her idea this time is a swap to honor the wedding of William and Kate at the end of April. This is a British and/or wedding themed swap. I already have some goodies that I have tucked away and am having a ball thinking up ideas. Head on over to Heidi's blog for all the details--HERE.
This one reminds me of spring with its white flowers and butterfly. Of course the pastel-colored rhinestones are always a favorite. 
This one features two crowns and is fit for anyone who likes royal pretties. I like the deep, rich ruby colors, the pearls, and those rhinestones!
This past Saturday Mom and I got up very early for the first time since her accident in August to go to a large church tag sale, two thrift stores, and an antique mall. She got right up and was eager to go which is amazingly GREAT progress for her. We went slowly with breaks, and she was tired in the afternoon. However, we had a super fun time and got some nice goodies. It was such fun to get up and go with her again. We have BOTH missed estate sales and shopping early. Anyway, I bought this little crown brooch for a song...I love crown brooches. You know, I went to list it in my shop and just couldn't! There have been several pieces that have been hard to part with--gorgeous vintage pieces--but this one I just couldn't break with. It is gold tone metal with both deep purple and clear rhinestones. It was a fun day with even a rare treat for myself!
Have you seen it in the news? Guess I'm stuck on royalty this week...but how can this beauty go unmentioned? This pink and white diamond tiara (picture complements of jewelry.com) is on display at London's 2010 Masterpiece Fair. The rare natural pink diamonds in it are from the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia. It's gorgeous! I love the filigree work in it. Actually...I get great inspiration and ideas for future projects from looking at items from royalty--I just use rhinestones! 
I was once told by a New Zealander that as an American I could never really understand royalty and a subject's relationship to a king/queen. At the time he was talking about the Christian's relationship with the King of kings. His statement is true since royalty is not a part of American culture. Perhaps that is why some of us (me included!) are in such awe of the actions of royalty across the world. Understanding it all can be difficult.
I always get way too far ahead of myself when it comes to reading my magazine subscriptions. I just got "Tea Time" in the mail...their January/February issue where they are talking about Valentines Day already...but I can't help it! All of this beautiful, fabulous information with pictures is sitting there waiting for me, and I can't resist peeking...then reading...from cover to cover!
The pink one with the heart-shaped topper I've had since high school and really like the color of the bottle AND the heart, of course.
The green one with the crown topper I bought in New Zealand at an antique store. It is a bath salt bottle actually with some of the salts still in it. I thought the crown was gorgeous and unique.
This is the perfume I use. My husband loved the scent...on another girlfriend, if you can believe that! LOL! But, no hard feelings at all, and I've worn it for over 20 years. He usually gets it for me for our anniversary when I'm out. I take great care not to waste it, and a bottle lasts and lasts and smells wonderful...oh, and makes me think of Paris!
These are little miniature bottles that I have sitting on this chintz plate on my dresser. You know...I can't resist anything in miniature, so a few miniature perfume bottles are a must. The Poeme bottle was given to me, and I like it for it's shape. The Paris miniature bottle, I've had for years and years. It was a "diamond" edition freebie with a Paris perfume purchase well over 10 years ago. My kids think it's a real diamond--wish it were!
Finally, this trio is an inexpensive set, but they look expensive, I think. The colors go perfectly with our bathroom colors. I love the crystal stoppers, and they sparkle and shine (when they aren't dusty!) and look beautiful when the sun is shining in our bathroom window. They just seem to glow.
I really do like and enjoy perfume bottles. I love their shapes, sizes, and labels. I don't have many perfume bottles, and those that I DO have aren't expensive ones. But, who needs to spend all outdoors to enjoy something pretty? Bottles and labels in many shapes and forms (like my glittery, shabby rose perfume label ornament--for year-round enjoyment) can truly add pretty spots of color and glamor to a home.
Due to the amazing generosity of someone dear and kind, Pamela Claussen's breathtaking book, Crowns, arrived in the mail this past week. I had really, really wanted the book actually--had pointed it out to my husband even...then someone (not my husband) sent it to me. I'm so thankful...tickled pink...jumping for joy...very grateful. Talk about inspirational! If you need inspiration on embellishing, this book will fill that need...and then some. You know I love embellishment of all kinds and have the philosophy of "If three beads can be placed in a particular spot...why not put seven?" Sometimes, however, I find it hard to find the line between embellishment and over-embellishment, between looking classy and being tacky. I don't ever want my things to look tacky. Pamela amazingly goes right up to that line yet never, ever crosses it. Her work is truly beautiful. If I were royalty in anyway--which I'm not other than being a child of God, the King of Kings--and needed a crown or piece of sparkle made...I'd hire Pamela for sure. Check out the book sometime. It's on Pam's lovely website, Glam by Pam. Thank you again, dear friend, for the book. I will enjoy and treasure it for years to come. 
I really love crowns. I remember as a child my family subscribed to the kid's version of National Geographic for my brother and me to enjoy (I can't remember the name of it--it will come to me eventually). Anyway, they had a small spread about the royal jewels of England and Russia. Talk about beautiful! I was smitten! Little did I know that years later I'd be able to view the crown jewels in London. Such sparkle! They were breathtaking! Well, all that to say that I've finally stitched up a little crown charm which I'll place probably today on my eCrater site. It features mirrored glass tube beads, glass "pearl" beads, and three Swarovski crystal "emerald" beads--perfect for the princess or queen to clip onto a zipper, purse, button hole, etc. Although the background looks a little green here for some reason, it is actually stitched onto an off-white background. It really glitters in the light. I hope you're smitten too. ; )
